Die-press.



W. H. SNEESTON.

DIE PRESS.

ABPLLCATION msp JUNE 26. R918 Patented Apr. 1,1919.-

4 SHEETSSHEET| rna' NORRIS PEYRF' W. H. SNEESTON.

DIE PRESS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. I918.

Patented Ap' r. 1, 1919 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W. H. SNEESTON.

DIE PRESS,

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2s. |9|8. 1,299,046. Patented Apr. 1,1919.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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W. H. SNEESTON.

DIE PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE26. 191a.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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STATES PATEN OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. SNEZESTON, 0F SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NELSON H.

SEELYE, OF WINCHESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS.

DIE-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June as, 1918. Serial No. 241,928..

and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Die- Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to die presses, such as are utilized in dieing or cutting out blanks or parts from a sheet of material, such, for example, as parts of leather, rubher or textile material for use in the manufacture of footwear, etc.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which is simple in construction, easily controlled in operation, and in which the leverage upon the operating arm or hammer may be reduced, thereby rendering the machine more rugged and less liable to be injured in operation.

The invention comprises certain improvements which are incorporated in the machine illustrated upon the accompanying drawing, which improvements will be hereinafter described in detail and pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood, of course, that the particular machine which has been illustrated is but one embodiment of the invention and that the invention'is capable of other embodiments without departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Speaking generally, the machine is provided with a vertically adjustable table having thereon a die block on which the work may be placed so as to be cut by suitable dies which are located by hand on the work. For cooperation with the die block, there is a reciprocatory arm or hammer which extends forwardly across the die block and which may be moved laterally from end to end of the die block so as to engage a die located on any part of the work. Instead of supporting the arm to swing about a vertical axis, it is arranged to slide transversely of its length upon a beam which is arranged above and in the rear of the table and die block. In this way, it is possible to use a relatively short operative arm, since its length need be sufficient only to project across a relatively narrow dle block. The beam is reciprocated automatically by power-transmitting mechanism under control of the operative, provision being made for stopping the operation when the arm or hammer, after having descended to force the die through the work, has returned to its initial raised position.

On the accompanying drawing;-

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 represents an elevation of the other end of the machine with the arm removed from the beam.

Fig. 4 represents a transverse vertical section on the line H of Fig. 1, parts of the mechanism being omitted for the sake 0 clearness. v

Figs. 5 and G'illustrate a form of brake which may be utilized.

The frame-work of the machine should be sufficiently rigid to withstand the jars and shocks experienced in the operation but may otherwise be of any convenient design. As shown, it comprises side frames or standards 10, 11, which may be suitably braced and connected according to the usual machine shop practice. The frames'have rearupwardly-projecting portions to afford guides for the. slides which support and operate the beam. Above the front portion of the side standards, there is a long narrow table 12 having on its under side longitudinal and transverse strengthening ribs or flanges 13, 14. A wooden die block 15' of usual construction is placed upon the table, and may be secured thereon if desired by any suitable means notshown. At its outer ends and near its corners the table is supported by vertical screw bars 16. The upper extremities of said bars are cylindrical and extend into sockets formed in the under side of the table near the corners thereof. These screw bars have angular portions which pass through complemental apertures in arched cross bars 17,17, which serve to hold the screw bars normally against rotation. Each screw bar asses through a combined nut and worm pinion 18, the two pinions at each end of the machine intermeshing with a worm 19. These worms are affixed upon a shaft 20 journaled in bearings 21' formed on the side standards. The pinions 18 are placed in lateral recesses '22 formed in the inner sides of the standards and are held by the top and bottom walls thereof againstaxial movement. A hand Patented Apr. 1, 1 919.

wheel 23, on one end of the shaft 26, affords means for effecting the rotation of the shaft and the simultaneous adjustment of all of the screw bars, and thereby the vertical adjustment of the table. By disengaging the arched cross bar 17 from the angular portion of any one of the screw bars, the latter may be independently adjusted by a wrench or other suitable tool. Any other convenient mechanism may be utilized for effecting the adjustment of .the table bodily or for adjusting theends or corners thereof so as to level the table. v I I The arm'or hammer, by which the dies are forced through the work, is indicated as a whole at 24, and it is moved and supported upon a beam which constitutes a part of the frame arranged to slide in vertical guideways afforded by the side standards. The beam, which is suitably braced and strengthened on its under side by longitudinal and transverse ribs of any convenient or preferred design to revent its yielding under strain, is supported by'and secured at its ends to upright slides 26 arranged in vertical guideways 27 of any suitable construction formed in or secured to the rear portions of the standards 10, 11. The beam is so formed that the hammer or arm may be supported thereon and slid lengthwise thereof, but, in vorder'to reduce themuscular exertion necessary to move the armor hammer, the latter is :provided with wheels or rolls adapted to roll'on tracksprovided on the beam. .As'shown, the beam has on its top and along its front edge a tapered track 28 with an undercut longitudinal surface 29 and along its rear edge a track 30 with upper and lower surfaces31, 32. The arm is provided with supporting wheels 33 which are grooved to fit and roll on the tapered track 28 and with afwheel 34 in rolling engagement with .the guide surface 32 of the track 30. The armor hammer itself is of any suitable shape, consisting substantially of a flat plate 37 provided on its upper' side with longitudinal'and lateral braces or strengthening ribs typified at'35, 36, and it projects forwardly of the beam so that it may lie above the table and parallel-therewith. The arm or hammer is of suflicient length 'to enable it to engage a die located anywhere on the die block, beingrelatively narrow in relation to th'elength 0f the table, but wide enough to insure its engagement "with the ton of any of the usual 'dies which are em-- ploved in' cutting out blanks or parts to be usedin the manufacture of rubber, leather or cloth'articles. To the rear portion 137 of the hammer, which constitutes the carriage portion'there'of, are afiixed laterally projecting brackets 38 i'nwhich the wheels 33 are journaled. These brackets 38 maybe vertically adjuste'd by adjusting screws such as typified at 41. The wheel 34 is supported by a stud 39 carried by an adjustable bracket 40 aflixed to the rear extremity of the arm or hammer. An adjusting screw 42 is uti lized for vertically adjusting the bracket 40. Looking at the arm from the front of the machine, the wheel 34 is located midway be tween the wheels 33, 33, and thus the arm or hammer has a three-point bearing on the beam, since the weight of the forwardly projecting portion of the -arm holds the rear wheel 34against the guide surface 32. The rear portion of, the hammer has a rib- 43 located above the guiding surface 31 ,of the track 30 and just clearing it, A gib 44, firmly bolted to the carriage, underlies the guiding surface 29 at the front of the beam and is located just to clear or likely to engage said surface. Consequently the arm or hammer may. be easily moved along the beam by reason of the rolling engagementof the wheels with the guiding surfaces, but, when the armdescends into-engagement with a die, the gib 44 and the shoulder 43 respec tively engage the guiding surfaces 29 and 31 of the beam andresist thershock. f The front extremity of the arm has a very slight up-and-down rocking movement as it is. en gaged with and disengaged from the die, but insufficient to affect the operation of the arm. The parts are so adjusted and arranged that, when the arm is in engagement with the die, its under face is parallel with the table. This slight rocking movement of the arm, however, may be obviated'by adjusting the parts so that the rib 43 and the gib 44 at all times engage their respective guiding surfaces. To facilitate the lateral movement of the arm, it is provided at its front end with an upstanding handle 45 which may be engaged by the operative.

As shown in Fig. 1, the beam projects to the right for some distancev beyond the end of the table and beyond the end standard 11 so that the arm may be moved to apoint beyond the end of the block so that the entire surface of the block and the work thereon may be completely exposed to the view of the operative. Suitable stops, not shown, may be utilized to limit the movement of the arm lengthwise of the beam.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for effecting the vertical reciprocation of the beam. A convenient form of mechanism is shown which comprises a power shaft 46, eccentrics 47 keyed or otherwise secured thereon, and rods 48, 48, operatively engaged with the eccentrics and pivoted by pins 49, 49, to the slides 26, 26. A com-. bined clutch, member, momentum wheel and belt pulley 50 is loose upon the shaft and is driven by a belt from a motor or countershaft. A complemental clutch member 51 is rigidly secured upon the shaft 46 and may be engaged by the member 50 was to cause the rotation of the said shaft. The

pulley 50 is moved longitudinally into engagement with the confronting member 51 by a yoke lever 52 which engages a collar 53 on the hub of the member 50. The lever is pivoted or fulcrumed on a stud 54 carried by an adjustable support 55 passed through a bracket 56. The lock nuts 57, 58, are employed to adjust the support to lock it after adjustment. For operating the clutch lever there is shown a long foot-treadle 59, the arms 60, 60, of which are fast upon a rockshaft 61 journaled in the standards 10, 11. On one extremity of the shaft there is secured .an arm 62 which is pivotally connected to an adjustable or extensible connecting rod 63, the upper end of which is pivoted to an arm 65 fast upon a rock-shaft 64. This rock-shaft is journaled in bracket 164 on the end standard 10, and it is provided with a second arm 66 connected by a link 67 with the clutch lever 52. The parts thus referred to are so connected and related, that, when the treadle is depressed, the lower end of the clutch lever is moved to the left so as to engage the driving pulley with the clutch member 51 and thus cause a rotation of the driving shaft 46 and the reciprocation of the beam and the hammer thereon. So long as the operative keeps his foot upon the treadle, the beam will be reciprocated. It is desirable, however, that the mechanism shall be stopped when'the shaft 46 has made one complete rotation, and, in order that this may be accomplished, there is secured to the end of the beam a cam 70 arranged to engage a roll 71 on the upper extremity 'of the clutch lever. When the beam is at the upper limit of its movement, the cam is disengaged from the roll. In operation, the operative puts his foot upon the treadle 59 and depresses it, thereby causing the clutch members to be engaged, whereupon the beam starts to desrend and moves far enough until the cam 7 O engages the roll 71. Thereupon the operative removes his foot from the treadle, and the cam holds the clutch lever in its clutch-locking position until the beam has completed its downward movement and has moved up far enough to permit the roll 71 to swing to the left and permit the clutch members to be disconnected. The parts, including the clutch lever, are all under the tension of two springs 72, 72, the ends of which are connected to the treadle 59 and to the shaft 20 or other convenient stationary member of the machine. A suitable brake mechanism is utilized to stop the rotation of the shaft 46 when the clutch members are disengaged. The mechanism shown comprises a brake wheel 74 on the righthand end of shaft 46, in the rim of which there is a brake band 75 which may be expanded by the angular head 76 on a rocking stud 77 journaled in a bearing in the standard 11. An arm 78 is rigidly secured to the stud and is connected by a connectin rod 79 with an arm 80 on the rock-shaft 61. There is suflicient motion between the connecting rod 79 and the arm 78, so that, when the treadle is depressed to cause the starting of the machine, the head 76 is in a position to permit the brake ring to contract and release the brake wheel, and, when the treadle is released and is at its uppermost position, the head 76 is rocked to expand the brake ring and stop the rotation of the brake wheel and of the shaft 46.

I have described the particular form of treadle operated mechanism for causing the rotation and the braking of the shaft 46, since it is desirable that the hammer may be caused to descend, and to cease movement after it has ascended to its initial position, but, of course, it will be understood that any other mechanism may be utilized for this purpose, there being no particular novelty in the mechanism which I have illustrated.

One of the results which I achieve by the machine as herein illustrated is that I may feed a sheet of work from the rear of the machine into position upon the die block,

which cannot easily be accomplished where.

the hammer is located upon an upright shaft located in the rear of the machine. It is very desirable at times to draw or feed a sheet of indeterminate length step-by-step on the die block as those portions which rest upon the die block become exhausted. By

examining Fig. 4, it will be noted that there is ample space to permit this to be done in the machine.

In order that the material may not sag into engagement with the operative portions of the machine, I provide a guide 82 which is located below the beam and which is supported upon bars 83, 84, affixed to the end standards. To guide the work from the rear, I employ a sheet metal apron or work guide 82, the front edge of which is hooked over a bar 83 secured to the standards 10 and 11, andthe rear portion of which is supported at a lower elevation by a cross bar 84.

In order to ease the reciprocation of the vertical slides 26, they may be provided with recesses 184 and anti-friction members 85 therein. These may be located to resist the lateral thrusts on the slides of the eccentric rods 48 and the pins 41.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of making and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, what I claim is 1. A dieing-out machine comprising a table for supporting the work, a horizontal beam arranged in the rear of the table and lengthwise thereof, mechanism for vertically reciprocating the beam, and an arm or hammer projecting forwardly from the beam to overlie the table, and movable bodily lengthwise of the beam.

2. A dieing-out machine comprising a table, a horizontal beam arranged longitudinally of the machine in vthe rear of the table and having longitudinal guideways thereon, an arm or hammer movable on said guideways and projecting forwardly from said beam to overlie said table.

3. A dieing-out machine comprising end standards having vertical guideways, a frame arranged to be reciprocated therein and including a horizontal beam arranged lengthwise of the machine, an arm or hammer arranged transversely of the beam and slidable lengthwise of the beam, and having a die-engaging portion projecting forwardly from the beam, and a die-block table supported by said standards in front of the eam.

4. A dieing-out machine having a table, a die block thereon on which the work may be supported, a beam in the rear of the die block, a hammer having its rear portion mounted on the beam to move lengthwise thereof, and having its die-engaging front portion projecting forwardly from the beam to overlie the die-block, and means under manual control for vertically reciprocating said beam, there being an uninterrupted space in the rear of the die block and under the beam to facilitate the passage of work from the rear of the machine to position on the die block.

5'. A dieing-out machine having a table, a die block thereon on which the work may be supported, a beam in the rear of the die block, a hammer having its rear portion mounted on the beam to move lengthwise thereof, and having its die-engaging front portion projecting forwardlv from the beam to overlie'the the block. means under manual control for vertically reciprocating said beam, and workguiding means located in the rear of the die block and below the beam.

6. A dieing-out machine comprising a table, a horizontal beam in the rear of the table having longitudinal guideways, a carriage having rolls tracking on said guideways and formed with a die-engaging :portion projecting forwardly from said beam to overlie said table, and means for reciprocating said. beam including upright slides to which the opposite ends of said beam are secured.

7. A dieing-out machine comprising a table for supporting the work, a horizontal beam arranged in the rear of the table, mechanism for vertically reciprocating the beam and engaged with the opposite ends thereof, and an arm or hammer projecting forwardly from the beam to overlie the table, and movable bodilylengthwise of the beam, said arm or hammer having supporting rolls tracking on said beam to facilitate the lateral movement thereof, and having beam-engaging portions to resist the thrust resulting from the engagement of the said arm with a die. n

. 8. A dieing-out machine vcomprising a "table, a non-oscillatory hammer projecting forwardly across said table and supported at its rear end in the rearo-f the table, gsald hammer being bodily movable only in rectilinear lines transversely of its length and longitudinally of the table, and slides located ad'acent and in the rear of the ends of the ta le for reciprocating said hammer.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my Signature.

WILLIAM H. SNEESTON.

Gqpies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, WashingtomD. C. 

